3rd Floor, Agricultural Training Institute Building,

Department of Agriculture, Elliptical Road, Quezon City

Trunk lines 4264956, 4264965, 4265019, 4265028, Fax 9279838

Office of the President of the Philippines NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION

Basic Sector Coordinating and Advocacy Service

PRESS RELEASE February 27, 2013 Undersecretary Francisco Fernandez announced to 500 local leaders of urban poor groups that demolitions will happen anytime with a deadline to meet – May 15, 2013 – in a dialogue held at the Bulwagang TandangSora, College of Social Work and Community Development in UP, Diliman, Quezon City. “Pero, ibana ang relocation sa administration na ito,” Usec. Fernandez told the assembly. “If you have a People’s Plan, kayo ang masusunod.” Commissioner Ric Domingo of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor assured the leaders that “this government has opened many avenues for people’s participation” and encouraged them to take advantage of such opportunities. The People’s Plan is a process of active participation of urban poor organizations with government agencies in relocating poor communities. This process was one of the agreements between urban poor organizations and government through the National Technical Working Group that was formed in 2010 and was led by the late Sec. Jesse Robredo. As a response to the news from Usec Fernandez, the National Urban Poor Sectoral Council (NUPSC) and other urban poor federations called on the assembly to work out a plan on the impending demolitions. The local leaders come from communities living along the rivers on-top waterways, rivers of San Juan, Pasig, Tullahan, Manggahan Floodway, Tripa de Gallina, and Maricaban Creek that make up the priority areas to be demolished. #### For more information, please contact: Joann Fernandez + 639153771068 joannfernandez@gmail.com